Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Joplin Police Chief announces retirement

(From the City of Joplin)

Joplin Police Chief Matt Stewart has announced his retirement effective January 3, 2020. He will have served with the Joplin Police Department for 20 years effective that date, having started with the Joplin Police Department on January 3, 2000.

During his tenure with the Joplin Police Department he served in numerous positions from patrol, SWAT, Training, Internal Affairs, and Investigations.

He was promoted to the rank of police chief in March 2016. Stewart is a graduate of the Missouri Police Chief’s Command College Session 3 and the FBI National Academy Session 256.








Stewart was crucial in implementing multiple organizational goals such as gaining accreditation with the Commission of Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). He has held multiple board positions within the Joplin community including:

Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, Board Member
Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, Chair
One Joplin Human Services Committee, Member
Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri, Executive Board
Missouri Cyber Crimes Executive Board, Member
Missouri Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Board Member
Tri-States Major Case Squad, Former Chair
CALEA Executive Director Regional Advisory Group, Member
Mercy Hospital Board of Directors, Board Member

“Having been with the Joplin Police Department for a number of years, Chief Stewart brought a great deal of experience to the position,” said Interim City Manager Dan Pekarek. 

“He has been a strong leader for the City as well as the community. Most recently, he was instrumental in guiding the department through the upcoming change of the City’s police retirement benefit, and his work with our community service partners has created a collaborative environment to study and resolve issues within the city. I appreciate his service to the City and our citizens and wish him well in the next phase of his life.”

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

smart guy getting out while the getting is good. Joplin is being run like a third world country by a few autocratic individuals doing what is good for the few versus the community. It is no wonder it has remained a small town versus Springfield being a expanding and thriving town with good salaries and decent facilities. You get what you elect and what you put into your community.

Anonymous said...

Yes - he is "cashing out" on a sweetheart deal - fully funded by the (suckers) taxpayers. I am sure others (like him) will be cashing out in the near future.

Many employers require a total of 85 years (age & time in service). Enjoy paying the higher sales tax.